Healthy communities, active lifestyles
For 40 years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked to protect the health of Americans and safeguard the environment in which they live, learn and work. EPA’s Aging Initiative, which focuses on older-adult health, spearheads a national recognition program for communities that are also striving to do both—the annual Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards. In February 2011, the agency named four recipients of its 2010 awards competition. These winning communities are improving people’s health and overall quality of life through smart growth neighborhoods, which are designed to reduce commutes and environmental harm—and promote active lifestyles.